Report: Chiarelli will try to sign Rask to long-term deal

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TSN.ca Staff2/8/2013 8:09:30 PM

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Now that Tim Thomas has been traded, the Boston Bruins appear willing to lock up goaltender Tuukka Rask to a long-term deal.

According to an online report, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli will look to sign the 26-year-old to an extension during the lockout shortened season. The timing of his comments have nothing to do with the Thomas trade, or Rask's performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

"Breaching my own policy [of not discussing contracts], we will bring up talks with Tuukka at some point in this season, in hoping to extend him," Chiarelli told csnne.com. "I know the perception looks like one follows the other and I was waiting to pull the trigger based on a great game by Tuukka. We've been pretty open with Tuukka and Tim as far as when we would see them ending up, I call it a succession plan."

Rask, who will become an restricted free agent at the end of the season, is currently on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

He's posted a 6-1-1 record thus far in 2013 and has a 1.96 goals against average. He has posted a 53-36-12 in 110 career games with the Bruins.

Rask was originally selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins acquired him via trade prior to the 2006-07 season.